Friday 1 November 2019

South African Airways lease four A350s from Hainan Airlines and Air Mauritius

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA




According to simpleflying, South African Airways plans to lease four A350s this year for a three-year lease and the first aircraft will operate commercial flights in mid-December 2019. Of the four A350s leased by South African Airways, two are from Hainan Airlines and two are from Air Mauritius.


Hainan Airlines sub-leased two A350-900 (B-304Z, B-305A) in the fleet to South African Airways. It has been deployed to Singapore and modified for South African flight operations with registration numbers ZS-SDC and ZS-SDD.


Among them, the A350 with registration number ZS-SDC was received by South African Airways on 31 October 2019, which is the first A350 received by South African Airways.


According to Aeronews, two Air Mauritius A350s (production serial numbers MSN354, MSN356) will also join the South African Airways fleet in the coming months. Since Air Mauritius has not operated the two A350s, they are still brand new when they arrive in South Africa.


MSN354 will be registered as ZS-SDE. It has been completed and is currently waiting for livery painting and delivery in Toulouse. The MSN356 will be registered as a ZS-SDF and is currently undergoing final assembly.


The first A350 will replace the A340-600's transatlantic route to New York JFK. Details of the operational routes of the other three A350s have not yet been announced. However, all A350s will be equipped with 30 flat Business Class seats and 309 Economy Class seats, with extra legroom in the first six rows.


South African Airways Chief Executive Officer Zuks Ramasia said that three more A350s will be delivered in the next six weeks and concluded, “This is an important step as we continue to transform our business in the shortest possible time to restore the financial sustainability of the airline.” 

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